Talent Domain: Ice Fire Poison Miasma

When they looked once more at the academy where they had lived for three years, their gazes had completely changed, filled with awe and curiosity.

This was Big Dipper Academy, situated in the deepest reaches of Sunset Forest, surrounded by poison miasma and Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts.

Its veil of mystery seemed to be lifting slightly with the release of the Sky Screen Ranking.

Dugu Yan stood some distance away.

She took in Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing's conversation and reactions.

Though she had not thought as deeply as the two girls, she vaguely sensed that this academy was far from ordinary.

Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul...

Could it really make the ranking?

For the first time, she felt a trace of uncertainty toward the Martial Soul she had once been so proud of.

On the rocking chair, Lu Xiao, who appeared to be asleep, curled his lips into an almost imperceptible smile.

The brief wait.

To the Soul Masters of Douluo Continent, it felt longer than a month.

The golden Sky Screen overhead was like the Sword of Damocles, hanging over everyone's hearts.

It brought both longing for opportunity and fear and curiosity toward the unknown rankings.

When that familiar hum once again resounded throughout heaven and earth, the entire continent instantly held its breath.

Golden light gathered as the voice of Heavenly Dao rang out solemnly:

[Martial Soul Ranking, 14th Place: Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor]

[Holder: Dugu Yan (Big Dipper Academy)]

[Rating: Top-tier control system/assault type Beast Martial Soul. Tempered and transformed through the powers of extreme cold and extreme heat, it possesses dual ice and fire attributes. Its poison has mutated, greatly multiplying its power. Current development level: 88%]

[Reward: Soul Power Level increased by three levels, all Soul Ring Ages increased by 3,500 years, Talent Domain: Ice Fire Poison Miasma]

"Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor? Dugu Yan? Who's that?"

"Never heard of her! Isn't the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul inherited by Poison Douluo Dugu Bo's line? It's troublesome, sure, but 14th Place? Higher than the Seven Killing Sword?"

"Wait! The description says it was tempered by the powers of extreme cold and extreme heat? Dual ice and fire attributes? Th-... is that still a Jade Phosphorous Serpent?"

"Dugu Yan... could she be Poison Douluo's granddaughter? Her Martial Soul evolved?!"

"A three-level Soul Power increase as a reward? And a domain! Th-... this opportunity is too heaven-defying!"

Huge discussions erupted across the continent once again.

Compared to the Martial Souls of those famous powerhouses, the "Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor" and its holder, "Dugu Yan," were unfamiliar to most people.

But its lofty ranking and generous rewards.

Instantly drew the attention and investigation of countless factions.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong watched the Sky Screen, all wearing astonished expressions.

"Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor? That old freak Dugu Bo's granddaughter?"

Gu Rong looked utterly confused.

"Old Poison's Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor might be troublesome, but in terms of quality, it's far inferior to your Seven Killing Sword and my Bone Dragon, isn't it? How did it reach 14th Place? And just one place ahead of you, Old Chen?"

Chen Xin frowned slightly, sword intent flowing through his eyes as he said in a low voice, "The Sky Screen mentioned that it was 'tempered by the powers of extreme cold and extreme heat' and possesses 'dual ice and fire attributes.'"

"It seems this girl's Martial Soul has undergone an extraordinary evolution."

"Furthermore, its poison has mutated and its power has multiplied. Perhaps that is the key to its high ranking."

Ning Fengzhi fell into thought. "Dugu Yan... I recall hearing news about three years ago that Poison Douluo's granddaughter had also entered the depths of Sunset Forest, after which there was no word from her. Could it be..."

A vague guess arose in his heart, but he had no way to confirm it.

He only felt that the forest shrouded in poison miasma had become even more mysterious and unfathomable.

Big Dipper Academy, plaza.

"It's me! It's me! 14th Place!"

"Ha ha ha!"

The instant Dugu Yan saw her name and Martial Soul appear, she froze at first.

Then she leaped up in excitement, her pretty face filled with exhilaration and wild joy.

She had never imagined that her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul would not only make the ranking.

But rank so highly, even surpassing Sword Douluo's Seven Killing Sword!

After all, when she had seen the Seven Killing Sword's ranking earlier, she had thought she probably would not even make the top twenty.

However, when she recalled the suffering she had endured during her Martial Soul Evolution, she felt that every sacrifice had been worth it.

She knew that every day, she used the ice and fire powers of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to temper her own Martial Soul.

This was the method Teacher Li Bai had taught her.

Moreover, Teacher Li Bai assisted her from the side. Otherwise, with her current frail body, the ice and fire powers were so terrifying that even enduring a little more would likely leave her severely injured.

Fortunately, after a year of attempts.

Her Martial Soul had indeed fused with the powers of ice and fire.

And her poison had undergone other changes because of those powers.

Boom!

Suddenly, a huge Golden Light Pillar descended upon her.

Dugu Yan could clearly feel a pure and gentle energy ignoring the barriers of space.

Quietly merging into her body and pushing her Soul Power Level through breakthrough after breakthrough.

Three consecutive breakthroughs.

At the same time, it nourished and transformed her Soul Rings and the origin of her Martial Soul!

A brand-new understanding of the powers of ice and fire.

As well as a vague vision of a Poison Miasma Domain, surfaced in her mind.

"Dean! Did you see it? My Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor ranked 14th!"

Dugu Yan excitedly ran to Lu Xiao's rocking chair and spoke with overwhelming excitement.

Only then did Lu Xiao lazily open one eye. He Glanced at the Sky Screen, yawned, and said, "Mm, I saw it. So-so, I suppose."

The two spring waters in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well contained the powers of Ultimate Ice and Extreme Fire respectively.

Making a serpent Martial Soul possess those two attributes was effortless for him.

"So-so?"

Ning Rongrong could not help but cut in, her little face full of disbelief.

"Sister Yan's Martial Soul ranked 14th! It's even higher than Grandpa Sword's Seven Killing Sword! And you call that so-so?"

Zhu Zhuqing also looked at Lu Xiao. Curiosity appeared on her cold, beautiful face, while a trace of envy flickered in her eyes.

Although her Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul was a top-tier agility attack system Martial Soul, and she had previously consumed an Immortal Herb that greatly improved her strength.

In terms of Martial Soul grade, however, it truly could not compare with Dugu Yan or Ning Rongrong.

Seeing the other girl receive a reward, Zhu Zhuqing resolved that she had to cultivate as quickly as possible.

Otherwise, if this continued, the two of them would surely leave her far behind.

Lu Xiao stretched and said unhurriedly, "Given the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's original potential, making the top twenty would already have been cause for celebration. But..."

He Glanced at Dugu Yan. "You little girl are quite lucky. Or rather, your grandfather had the sense to yield back then. Your Martial Soul soaked in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for so long, then received nourishment from some of the academy's resources, resulting in a beneficial mutation."

"The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Martial Soul now possesses both ice and fire attributes, and its poison has also undergone a transformation. Its potential has indeed risen considerably."

"Ranking 14th is only reasonable."

He spoke lightly, but the information in his words shocked Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing once more.

Upon hearing this, Dugu Yan became even more grateful toward Lu Xiao and the academy.

She knew that without her grandfather's willingness to yield back then, and without the resources and environment provided by the academy, she could never have achieved what she had today.